This year, the 2020 ITAPA Congress, in cooperation with RTVS, awarded again the most innovative and useful projects in the field of IT and digitalisation of society. Since 2014, this largest Slovak IT conference has included the Radio Slovakia Award, in which listeners can determine which of the submitted projects they consider the best.

Projects competing for the prize include IT projects that focus on people, make their lives easier and make services more available, as well as projects that use technology to support the development of communities, society and the environment in a broader sense.

This year, the winner of the Radio Slovakia Award is the Mobile ID project, which aims to significantly simplify electronic communication of the citizen and institutions from the public or private sphere. Instead of visiting the office personally, all the client has to do is install the application, verify their identity and authorise the necessary documents with the electronic equivalent of a handwritten signature. They need just two valid identity documents and a smartphone connected to the Internet.

In the Radio Slovakia competition, the Mobile ID project was nominated as one of five out of the total of 21 projects registered for the competition. Mgr. Michal Dzurjanin, Director of the Program Section at RTVS Radio, handed over the Radio Slovakia Award to Ing. Peter Kolesár, Director for Public Administration at PosAm, and Ing. Adrián Belánik, Executive Director of Data Centre for Electronisation of Local Governments.

Mgr. Michal Dzurjanin appreciated the fact that in the strong competition of five nominated projects, the Mobile ID project received 1,855 listener votes, representing more than 42% of the total number of listener votes cast in the competition. He wished the implementation team and the project a lot of success.

“it is a great honour for us and a high appreciation of our work, because the Radio Slovakia Award expresses the opinion of citizens, the opinion of our target group. It is the citizen and their communication with the authorities who benefit from this innovative solution in the form of significant simplification,” said Ing. Peter Kolesár, Director for Public Administration, PosAm.

The mID application is published on Google Play and the App Store.
For more information on the application, its installation and use, visit www.vybavzmobilu.sk.

ITAPA: The largest Slovak IT conference that brings together the worlds of IT, industry and public administration.  Since 2002, experts from the government and public administration, IT and manufacture, academia and the non-profit sector have been meeting at ITAPA events. In 2019, over 1,100 direct participants and more than 6,000 online participants attended the ITAPA event. More than 180 inspirational speakers presented thelatest IT trends, best practices, innovations and strategies.

Príspevok Mobile ID is the Winner of Radio Slovakia Prize at 2020 ITAPA Congress je zobrazený ako prvý na PosAm.

In an effort to increase the use of electronic services of local governments, DEUS (Data Centre for Electronisation of Local Governments) is launching a mobile application called mID, that enables citizens to communicate with local governments online.

The mID application cooperates with the DCOM information system, thus it is accessible to more than 2,100 municipalities. For citizens, entrepreneurs and municipalities involved in the DCOM project, the application is free of charge.

The aim of the project was to create a mobile ID in order to enable official matters to be handled via smartphones operating on Apple’s iOS as well as Google’s Android anytime and from anywhere.  The mID application was created as an alternative that allows a certain type of electronic services to be used by all citizens, not only those who have an electronic ID card with a chip and who can communicate via a PC with installed software and a reader. mID follows global trends and, like in the USA, Austria or Estonia, moves identity to the smartphone. mID provides an alternative that simplifies and speeds up access to electronic services without compromising the data security and it is in accordance with applicable legal standards.

The role of PosAm in the implementation of the mID project was to design the architecture of the solution and to interconnect the components covering the main functionalities of the solution. When selecting the mobile application platform, the signing component and the module for verifying the user’s identity through facial biometrics, we rely on proven solutions from Slovakia representing technological excellence of world class.

mID offers a highly suitable form of communication with the authorities also in relation to the current Covid-19 pandemic, as it eliminates the necessity for a physical contact between people, thus minimising the risk of transmission. In addition, it increases comfort by allowing users to register their mobile identity and use the system immediately from the comfort of their living room.  The application currently cooperates with the DCOM information system, which is used by more than 70% of local governments yet is technically ready to integrate with central government portals or third party services. It is used for online user registration, logging in to the system and signing electronic submissions.
At PosAm, we believe that with the benefits the application offers, it will quickly find many satisfied users.

The mID application is published on Google Play and the App Store.

You can find more about the application, its installation and use here

Príspevok mID – Municipal Office in Your Mobile je zobrazený ako prvý na PosAm.

Microsoft Teams is part of Office 365 and provides a modern work environment for team collaboration. It is a platform for interviews, on-line meetings and video conferencing, and it enables working with files and sharing them in teams. This allows team members to communicate with each other and have access to the information they need. They can use Microsoft Teams no matter where they are, and on any device. They can add content and features to their work environment that correspond to their daily needs.

PosAm, a leading Slovak IT company, has extensive experience with the electronization of processes at the local government level. In cooperation with the DEUS Association (an organization founded by ZMOS and the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic), it participated in the creation of the Data Centre of Municipalities and Towns (DCOM), which makes electronic services available to local governments and citizens. Currently, its services are used by more than 2,100 municipalities and towns. Thanks to the platform and technologies brought to the municipalities by DCOM, it was possible to react flexibly and very promptly to the current situation, and supplement the services by Microsoft Teams. Its services will be provided to municipalities free of charge.

Registration to this service can be requested by a statutory representative of the municipality through ZMOS.

Príspevok PosAm, Microsoft and ZMOS (Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia) have joined forces and provided remote teamwork technologies for municipalities je zobrazený ako prvý na PosAm.

These services must be fully online and must comply with “The Once-Only Principle” across all the countries of the EU. Therefore, information that has already been submitted to the administrative authorities of the country of origin or that are held by the administrative authorities of the country of origin, will not need to be repeatedly sent to the country of destination. The goal is to remove discriminatory barriers, help citizens and businesses to meet their obligations across borders. According to the European Commission, this should help EU citizens save up to 855,000 hours and companies over EUR 11bn a year.

With the aim of achieving an automated document exchange and seamless digital communication between competent authorities in different Member States, the 21 online processes established in each Member State will be linked to data sources across Europe. The concept for a technical solution is being tested as part of the EU’s eGovernment Action Plan for 2016-2020 under TOOP (The Once-Only Principe) project. Within TOOP, a special IT infrastructure has been created that allows data exchange between public authorities at the transnational level under “The Once-Only Principe”. In Slovakia, the project includes the Register of Financial Statements of the Ministry of Finance of the SR. Today, as part of the test concept, it already provides data within a single IT infrastructure. Participation in the TOOP project is technically and organizationally ensured by PosAm.

“We are pleased that, with our experience in developing solutions based on open systems and Open API that bring significant benefits to citizens and companies in Slovakia, we can help to address similar challenges and simplify administration across the entire European Union,” said Peter Kolesár, Director for Public Administration at PosAm, regarding PosAm’s participation in the TOOP project.

Príspevok As part of the TOOP project, we are helping to create IT architecture for the European Single Digital Gateway initiative je zobrazený ako prvý na PosAm.

The portal enables users to display the profiles of individual towns, villages and districts, as well as all towns and villages in a district, compare results and create adjusted charts of selected towns and villages according to selected indicators. It is important not only to disclose data as such but also to process it into a form that is easy to understand for the lay public, for whom it is primarily intended. PosAm’s solution, used for the first time also abroad, enables budget structure to be displayed in a clear graphic form.

“I am glad that the effort to use our solutions abroad and our long-term cooperation with INEKO has brought such results. Using our visualisation platform to display the budgets of all towns and villages in Moldova confirms the fact that PosAm’s IT solutions are ranked among the top products in the area of management and transparency of public finance.” said Marek Líška, Manager of the Foreign Sales Department. “We at PosAm consider transparency to be one of the key principles which should be followed in the good management of public finance”, he added.

INEKO is a Slovak non-governmental non-profit organization established in support of economic and social reforms which aim to remove barriers to the long-term positive development of the Slovak economy and society.

IDIS is an independent research think-tank, the mission of which is to contribute to the growth of competitiveness of Moldovan society and economy in a well-governed state with favourable conditions for its population.

PosAm is a leading Slovak IT company, a specialist in public finance budgeting, the solutions of which help increase transparency in the business environment and the management of public finance in Slovakia. For more information about PosAm solutions for the public sector see www.budgetspecialists.eu

Príspevok We have contributed to higher transparency in Moldovan Local Government je zobrazený ako prvý na PosAm.

In addition to the classics you mentioned they already had Excel software available. It was done by writing on paper sheets and then copying into tables on the computer. They used Excel to check the accuracy of results. However, these procedures were unsustainable in the long term. At that time, we had already been using a platform for information sharing and communication called Lotus Notes. It was something like a little predecessor of today’s Facebook for the corporate environment. Coincidentally, the MF SR had chosen this platform for the future and announced a tender for the supplier of software licenses and consequently the services for the development of applications in this environment. At the time there were three suppliers in Slovakia, including us. We were lucky and offered the lowest price and won this contract. At the time, the MF SR identified that they needed the most help in the budget area, where several workplaces had to communicate and share information. Over time it became clear that Lotus Notes was not ideal for budgeting. We gradually abandoned this platform and used another, more suitable one.

When was the breakthrough that allowed budgeting to significantly progress?

The breakthrough was a State Treasury project. The former finance minister, Brigita Schmögnerová, understood that public resources would be much more manageable if the state and its organizations stopped depositing them individually in commercial banks, but rather in a single common public budget account. The State Treasury has two sections: the bank one and the budget one. When this was discussed and they were satisfied with us at the MF SR, they decided to not procure the budget section, but to give us the opportunity to significantly expand it in order to meet all the necessary requirements.

The system expanded its functionality over the years. Does the system enable the Minister of Finance and his colleagues to have an overview of the budget situation at any moment?

Yes. The entire system works on-line and it is available centrally for all state administration entities. It is possible to view how the budget is set and it can be very quickly operatively adjusted during the course of the year. When a disproportion occurs, the process of managed budget change is triggered. It’s a very lively and dynamic system.

Is there a notification that highlights unwanted developments in some part of the state budget?

There is a very strict barrier, where it is not possible to use more funds for the given items.

The budget information system covers practically the entire sphere of public finances. Where do you see its further prospects?

We want to continue with its enhancement, increase its transparency, simplify its use and move it forward so it can be used as a prognostic tool. There are always opportunities to improve its quality. In addition, the BIS serves as the source data base for the interactive portal www.rozpocet.sk, through which the public budgets of state and self-government organizations are clearly visualized. We would also like this system to be implemented in other countries as well. It has good chances, because the level of the budgeting process is high in Slovakia and it goes hand in hand with the level of IT support.

Are we the world leader in this area?

Yes, I am sure about that.

For example, many countries recognize the Czechs as experts in central banking targeted inflation policies. Can Slovakia be globally recognized in the area of budgeting systems?

Slovakia can be very useful in this area. We are making practical steps, for example in Ukraine, where there is the will for the MF SR to give local partners the right to use the relevant software code. The only thing remaining would be the local implementation of the system. It could help them to better manage their public resources.

In recent years, Slovakia has been consolidating public finances and moving towards a balanced budget. Can an information system be a source of savings?

In this regard, the political will is absolutely crucial. If it exists, an information system can support the allocation efficiency of public finances. In other words, putting them where the government sees its priorities. We see the sense in politicians having the perfect input information, which will enable them to make professionally correct decisions. The important thing in this regard is the cooperation with MF SR, which is, in our opinion, the best performing government department in Slovakia.

Full article on teraz.sk

Príspevok Slovakia is the world leader in the budgeting of public finances je zobrazený ako prvý na PosAm.

“Rozpočet.sk uses data from the Budget Information System, which has been helping prepare and manage the Slovak Republic’s budget for over 20 years. At the time of its gradual extension it was one of the important tools used for consolidating public finances in Slovakia,” says Marián Marek, the General Manager of PosAm, which is in charge of development of the Budget Information System, the Financial Statements Register and the Rozpočet.sk portal.

In addition to figures, the portal also contains educational videos with basic information about the budget, its preparation and use of public finances which may be used by schools. M. Marek adds: “We believe that the portal will help everyday people better understand how a budget is prepared and how public finances work”.

In addition to the Budget Policy Section of the MoF SR, the Rozpočet.sk portal was also developed by the Financial Policy Institute, the authors of the Value For Money project, as well as external consultants from non-profit organizations.

Príspevok The new version of the Rozpočet.sk portal has introduced a number of novelties je zobrazený ako prvý na PosAm.

The TOOP project is part of the EU eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020 and will contribute towards increasing the efficiency of the Digital Single Market. The goal of TOOP is to allow cross-border cooperation among public authorities and promote the business activities of companies across borders. This step eliminates unnecessary burdens for European companies which are asked to present the same data and documents repeatedly.

PosAm is a representative of Slovakia in the consortium. Its experts contributed also in the planning and preparation of the project. “When working on the TOOP project, we will use our experience and knowledge from introducing The Once Only Principle in Slovakia. We have only recently celebrated the third anniversary of introducing PosAm´s Register účtovných závierok (Registry of Financial Statements) system. The aim was to introduce this principle into the communication of economic operators with public authorities,” says Peter Kolesár, a director for public authorities at PosAm.

PosAm is also a coordinator for Slovak public institutions that will participate in the pilot project. Presently, the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic and the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic are participating in it. For maximum effect of “The Once Only Principle”, also other institutions will be gradually invited to participate.

Three pilot projects

The introduction of “The Once Only Principle” across countries will first be tested in three pilot projects. These will be cross-border electronic services for business mobility, updating connected company data, and on-line access to ship and crew certificates for ship transport. In these pilots up to 60 information systems from 21 European countries can be inter-connected. The pilots will not only test the proposed architecture and technologies but also help administrations and businesses to speed up service provision and enable SMEs to operate easily within the EU Digital Single Market.

Connecting to existing programmes and initiatives

The TOOP project has the ultimate goal of developing a proposal for innovative federative architecture enabling the inter-connection and cooperation of particular national registries and systems at a Europe-wide level. This architecture will support the cross-border cooperation of public authorities in particular European countries and international business activities. For this purpose, TOOP will consider the possibilities of existing EU frameworks (EIRA, EIF) and the use of existing IT components (so-called Building Blocks) developed within the e-SENS project and operated as Digital Services Infrastructures of the Connecting Europe Facility.

More about project

Príspevok The Once Only Principle should be applied throughout the whole of Europe je zobrazený ako prvý na PosAm.

Representatives of the Macedonian government who are looking for ways to improve the functioning of public administration are keenly interested in the DCOM project. They were inspired by the functioning model and modern solution, which raises the standard of IT infrastructure of towns and villages, improves the ways information technologies can be used for civil servants, citizens and the whole of public administration, while making electronic services available to citizens. As part of the lively discussion, consultants from PosAm spoke about the company’s wealth of experience with various aspects of preparing for and implementing such an extensive, complex and sophisticated solution.

The Macedonian Minister of Information Society and Administration, Marta Arsovska Tomovska, who is responsible also for digital transformation and administrative reform in the country, became acquainted in detail with the functioning example of eGovernment in Slovakia. The excellence of the DCOM project is proven not just by the strong interest of participants at the meeting, but also by several Slovak and international awards.

“We are happy to have had the possibility to present the DCOM project to representatives of the Macedonian government and partners from Makedonski Telekom. I am confident that the solution would prove to be a benefit for citizens and local government alike, also under Macedonian conditions”, said PosAm’s Project Manager for DCOM, Roman Jedinák, after the meeting.

Príspevok DCOM – inspiration for eGovernment in Macedonia je zobrazený ako prvý na PosAm.